Timed wired radio receiver



June 13, 1939. a SCHHBELL 2,161,890

TIMED WIRED RADIO RECEIVER Filed Sept. 25, 1957 IN V EN TOR.

90am cBwwn sa a/Edi A TTORNEY.

Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIltIED WIRED RADIO RECEIVER Application September 25, 1937, Serial No. 165,628

4 Claims.

This invention pertains in general to radio equipment and specifically relates to a form of radio equipment wherein the operation of the same is controlled in accordance with time intervals.

The principal object of the invention comprises providing a radio set which may be turned on manually and which will be shut-down automatically after a predetermined lapse of time.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a radio set having a circuit controller automatically operative within a predetermined time, and including means for modifying the time interval of operation by manipulation of other operative parts of the radio set.

These and other desirable objects will be app rent from the following taken in conjunction with the drawing, forming a part of the specification, and which diagrammatically represents a preferred embodiment of the time controlled radio equipment in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a radio set I comprises thermionic amplifier and detector tubes and associated circuits for selective reception of high frequency energy constituting programs transmitted at various frequencies. The selection among the programs to be reproduced is accomplished by an adjustable tuning system represented by variable capacitor 2 manually operated by control knob 3. The control knob 3 is movable to any one of several calibrated tuning positions, designated A, B, and C, representing the tuning frequencies of several dis- 35 crete program channels. As shown, the knob is set to receive the program represented with reference to the indicia C.

Radio set I is of the wired radio type adapted to receive programs transmitted as carrier frequencies over power lines. However, the invention is equally well adapted for use in other types of radio equipment. As here represented, the set I includes a cable 4 extending from service plug 5 adapted to lit in the consumers service outlet 5 for obtaining 60 cycle commercial alternating current, as well as the carrier frequency program energy. The cable 4 is connected with an electric clock 6 having a face visible on the front panel of the set I. The clock 6 includes the usual rotor driving a. minute hand I and hour hand 8 through the usual chain 1 reduction gears. Connections Ill and II are provided to the opposite lines of cable 4 for supplying operating energy to the terminals I2 and I3 connected with the usual power pack and circuits for operating the tubes within the set I. Other connections are provided from the terminals I2 and I3 through capacitors I4 and I5 for supplying the carrier frequency energy to the set I.

The line Ill extends through contact terminal l1, switch blade I8, and contact terminal I9 to the terminal I2. The switch blade I8 is connected with a manual switch knob 20 provided on the front panel of the set I. This manual switch knob 20 is manually movable to either of two positions marked on and off in which positions the set is respectively energized and tie-energized by virtue of the position of switch blade I8. The mounting for the switch blade I8 is pivoted and includes an arm 22 adapted to be actuated by an electro-magnet 23. The electromagnet 23 is energized from a connection extending from line I3 through the electro-magnet 23 and thence through contact terminal 24 and switch armature 25 and through contacts 21 and 28 with a return connection to the terminal I2.

The contact 28 is engaged by the periphery of a rotatable disk 29 having a cam projection 30 thereon. The disk 29 is mechanically coupled with the shaft of the minute hand I. When the hand I is rotated to the vertical even-hour position, the projection 30 causes the contacts 21 and 28 to engage, thereby energizing the electromagnet 23 and causing the switch I8 to move to an open position so that the circuit is interrupted between contact terminals I1 and I9. At the same time, the switch knob 2|] is angularly moved into the off position so that it is visibly apparent to the user of the set that the set has been turned off. Thus, if the set is turned on at any time during the hour, the set will be turned off at the expiration of the hour and it will be necessary for the user or operator to again turn the switch on by manual manipulation of the knob 20. It will of course, be obvious that, when desired, various different arrangements of projections similar to the projections 30 may be provided on the control disk 29. For example, the disk 29 could be operated so as to turn off the set at the expiration of two or three hours, or again the control could be arranged so that the set Would be turned ofi at the expiration of 15 minutes or like intervals.

The invention further provides an arrangement whereby a tuning operation by the operator will prevent the de-energization of the set at the immediately following turn-off time, but will prepare the controlling circuit so that the set will be turned oil at the second turn-off time, unless a still further tuning operation is provided within the period immediately preceding such second turn-01f time.

Contacts and 36 control a circuit which energizes electromagnet 31. The contact 36 is adapted to be moved into engagement with the contact 35 by projections 38 on the periphery of a control disk 39 when the control disk 39 is angularly moved by virtue of a mechanical connection with the tuning knob 3. Thus, the contacts 35 and 36 are closed each time the knob 3 is moved from one program tuning position to another. When the knob 3 is so moved, electromagnet 31 is energized, thereby moving the armature switch 25 to a position in engagement with contact terminal 26. This action prepares an electrical circuit extending from the now open contacts 21 and 28 to electromagnets 40 and 4|. When the next turn-off time arrives, as when the hand "I arrives at a vertical on-the-hour position, the contacts 2'|2B are closed which now completes an energizing circuit to electromagnets 4!! and 4|. Immediately, an armature switch 42 will be opened which will interrupt the circuit to electromagnet 23, and, concomitantly, the switch armature 25 will be moved from contact terminal 26 to contact terminal 24. If the switch 25 comes into contact with the contact terminal 24 While the contacts 2|28 are still closed, the potential energizing circuit to electromagnet 23 is interrupted by switch 42 which is now in an open position by virtue of the energization of electromagnet 4|. The electromagnet 4| is of the slow-to-release type so that the switch 42 remains in an opened position during the engagement of contacts 21 and 28. Upon de-energization of electromagnet 4|, the armature 42 is returned to a closed position by an associated spring.

Thus, it will be seen that, in the turn-off closure of the contacts 21-28 just described, the control system is rendered inoperative for moving the switch blade I8 so that the radio set remains in an operative condition until the next turn-off interval, at which time the electromagnet 23 will then become energized and the set turned off. However, if during such interval the tuning knob 3 should be again moved from one tuning position to another, the de-energization of the set is prevented during the interval during which the tuning operation is effected.

Although a preferred form of radio time control system has been disclosed, it will be recognized that various changes and equivalent structures can be made without departing from the intended scope of the invention. Therefore, no limitation is intended except as pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A control system comprising, a radio set having a movable tuning device therein, a periodically operating de-energizer for said set, and means set in operation by movement of said tuning device for automatically delaying operation of said de-energizer for at least one period thereof after movement of said tuning device.

2. A control system comprising a radio set, an on and off switch for said set, a manual knob for moving said switch to an on position, an electromagnet for moving said switch and knob to an off position, a clock movement, contacts controlling an energizing circuit to said electromagnet, a control device periodically actuated by said clock movement for operating said contacts to energize said electromagnet and move said switch to an off position, a tuning device, and means operated by movement of said tuning device for preventing the movement of said switch to an off position by said electromagnet except after a lapse of time after the movement of said tuning device.

3. A control system comprising, a radio set having a movable tuning device and an on and off circuit, a manual element for initially operating said circuit to energize said set, means for de-energizing said circuit after movement of said element, and means operated by movement of said tuning device for preventing operation of said de-energizing means.

4. A control system for a wave receiver comprising, means for energizing and de-energizing said receiver, means for periodically operating said first means to its de-energizing position, a tuning device for said receiver, and a circuit conditioned by movement of said tuning device for rendering said periodic means ineffective for at least one period thereof.

GORDON BROWN SCI-IEIBELL. 

